Articles
The identification of candidate genes for fruit firmness in sweet cherry
Article number
1408_24
Pages
173 – 180
Language
English
Abstract
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is an important fruit crop that is widely cultivated in temperate regions.
Fruit firmness is one of the most important economic traits and breeding objectives in sweet cherry.
In this study, three sweet cherry cultivars (‘Tieton’, middle type; ‘Black sugar brocade’, soft; ‘Ruby’, firm) and their three stages (yellow and white period, 80-90% maturation period, and overripe period) were investigated.
The results showed that fruit firmness was inversely proportional to fruit ripeness during ripening.
The fruit firmness of ‘Ruby’ at each period was the hardest among the three cultivars, followed by ‘Tieton’ and ‘Black sugar brocade’. In order to explore the key genes controlling fruit firmness, we performed transcriptome sequencing on these three types of sweet cherries.
Based on the data analysis and the previously reported firmness QTLs, we finally screened 40 genes that might be related to firmness in the qP-FF6.1 segment.
Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of the 40 genes by QRT-PCR. The results showed that Pav_sc0001142.1_g010.1.mk, Pav_sc0000467.1_g370.1.mk and Pav_ sc0000480.1_g920.1.mk were most likely to participate in the regulation of fruit firmness in sweet cherry.
Our findings confirmed a key candidate gene for controlling fruit firmness in sweet cherry, and provided new genetic resources for the improvement of hard-fleshed sweet cherry cultivars.
Fruit firmness is one of the most important economic traits and breeding objectives in sweet cherry.
In this study, three sweet cherry cultivars (‘Tieton’, middle type; ‘Black sugar brocade’, soft; ‘Ruby’, firm) and their three stages (yellow and white period, 80-90% maturation period, and overripe period) were investigated.
The results showed that fruit firmness was inversely proportional to fruit ripeness during ripening.
The fruit firmness of ‘Ruby’ at each period was the hardest among the three cultivars, followed by ‘Tieton’ and ‘Black sugar brocade’. In order to explore the key genes controlling fruit firmness, we performed transcriptome sequencing on these three types of sweet cherries.
Based on the data analysis and the previously reported firmness QTLs, we finally screened 40 genes that might be related to firmness in the qP-FF6.1 segment.
Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of the 40 genes by QRT-PCR. The results showed that Pav_sc0001142.1_g010.1.mk, Pav_sc0000467.1_g370.1.mk and Pav_ sc0000480.1_g920.1.mk were most likely to participate in the regulation of fruit firmness in sweet cherry.
Our findings confirmed a key candidate gene for controlling fruit firmness in sweet cherry, and provided new genetic resources for the improvement of hard-fleshed sweet cherry cultivars.
Publication
Authors
Y.X. Dong, X.L. Qi, C.L. Liu, L.L. Song, L. Chen, M. Li
Keywords
sweet cherry, fruit firmness, gene expression, candidate gene
Groups involved
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